Hack Into My Heart

Code 4: Yusuke

October, 2020

I grabbed my bag tight with my cold hands as the doors opened and the barrier between me and the world was removed.

Although it might sound silly, one part of me didn't want to take a step beyond that door as the world in front of me was different while I was frozen for two years. I didn't have anyone waiting for me, I was all alone in that new world and that feeling scared me to death.

As I couldn't beg them to take me back, I took a deep breath and left the prison with my shaky legs.

"Tahara-san!" the person I least expected called out to me. He was leaning on a black Honda with a hesitant smile on his face.

My feet acted on their own and without even realizing, I was standing in front of him. "What are you doing here?" I asked with a neutral tone although there was a strange tingle in my heart. Was it anger? Relief?

"I came to collect you," he said with a feigned blitheness, "congrats for your release."

As he was absent for six months, I wouldn't expect him to remember the day I was to be released, but there he was... with a fake smile.

"You didn't need to, I can go home by myself," I snorted as my pride wouldn't let me play the damsel in distress. I would rather walk home for days than to let him take me home.

"I see you really didn't read my letters," Yusuke said with a serious tone, shifting on his feet nervously.

"Say it directly," I urged him as I felt it was sure something bad. I also noticed his cheeks were sullen and he looked tired.

"Let's sit somewhere and talk," he said and without giving me a chance to object, he hopped in the car. Sighing in defeat, I followed his example and got into the car. He didn't drive too far, after fifteen minutes, he parked in front of a restaurant and led me into it.

I looked at the menu alienly as if I had never eaten out before. Seeing my hesitation, Yusuke suggested Ramen Udon which I nodded immediately. After he ordered two Ramen Udon and took a deep breath before saying, "I have some bad news."

My stomach churned, but I kept my indifferent attitude, "and it is...?"

"The bank confiscated your house, apparently Mr. Tahara took out some loan and he... couldn't pay it, so the bank got the house. I am sorry."

My house was gone? The only link I had with the world was gone... My hands clenched into fists as anxiety took control over me. Sure that I could change my plan and redirect a part of the money I stole from KCG into my account, but I didn't want that dirty money, tainted with my father's blood.

Suddenly I felt something warm on my hand and saw it was Yusuke's hand, covering my cold one. I retracted my hand immediately, saying "I understand."

"I couldn't save the house, I am sorry," he said apologetically with a slight bow.

"It wasn't your responsibility, why are you meddling with my problems?" I snapped at him although I didn't know the reason for my outbreak. It wasn't his fault or responsibility to inform me, so maybe I was ashamed to appear so weak in front of the enemy, hmm... I don't know.

"I..." he started but couldn't continue. Luckily the food arrived before long and broke the tension a bit. We ate in silence and left the restaurant right after he paid the bill.

"Tahara-san, you have three choices," Yusuke said as we sat in the car, "I can drop you somewhere you want or you can stay with me for a while. I live alone and mostly at work, so the house is empty most of the time."

I was flabbergasted. After all those snapping, was he really willing to take me to his house? There was something wrong with his head. "What is the third one?" I asked, trying to camouflage my shock.

"You can demand help from the government, but it takes time. I sent you those documents in advance, but apparently you didn't check," he said with a hint of melancholy.

I fidgeted uncomfortably, feeling slightly regretful for not opening the envelopes. Now, I was cornered as I didn't even have a choice. Nobody tried to contact me in those two years, other than a few 'thank you' messages from my father's colleagues, so it was out of question to pop up in front of somebody's house, asking for help. In the same manner, I didn't trust Yusuke any as he was only after the money, and I was already overly rude towards him.

"Then it is decided," Yusuke announced suddenly and started the engine. After a silent ride, he parked the car and took me into an ordinary apartment building. We took the elevator and he pressed 5. Once we arrived, he turned left and unlocked the door.

It was a small open-plan flat. There was not much furniture, only a beige sofa for three, a wooden coffee table in front of it and on a light blue carpet, there was also a cupboard, leaning on the wall. On the left, there was a wooden dining table for two which was covered by files and papers all over. The small kitchen part was neat and clean, no sign of being used.

"You can take this room," Yusuke said after I finished checking around. He took me to a small room with a bed, a desk and a small closet. "I hope it is enough for now," he said with a smile and I nodded. Of course it was more than enough, if not for him, I had to sleep on the streets.

Well, I could say this to him as well, but I was still being a bastard. Therefore, I said "I won't stay for a long time, so it doesn't matter."

"You can stay as much as you want," Yusuke, the eternal cutie said and walked towards the desk. He opened the first drawer and took something out of it. Hiding the item in his palm, he said "I have a small surprise for you."

I quirked an eyebrow with suspicion and he chuckled softly before holding my hand and letting the item fall into my palm.

It was Koi!

"How..." I mumbled while looking at my beloved with disbelieved eyes. When I hid it in the luminaire, I thought it would be safe, but then I learned that the bank confiscated the house, so I thought it was gone forever. But hey, it was in my hand!

"When you were leaving the room, I noticed your gaze was fixed on the luminaire. After I learned that the house was to be taken, I went back there to collect your stuff, also finding this little one."

"Thank you," I said with genuine gratitude, holding Koi dear in my hand. Yusuke was shocked to hear my thanks, but I pretended not to notice it. Then I realized what he said before Koi, so I asked "you collected my stuff?"

Yusuke nodded shyly and pointed at the other side of the bed. Getting close, I saw there were four big luggage and five paper boxes.

"I could get that much. If you need anything else, we can buy it later."

How could he be that nice? Surely, I was never nice towards him and he didn't even know me to help me to that extent. He buried my father, visited me in prison, brought me stuff regularly, rescued my stuff, collected me from prison as well as taking me to his house. Who would do such things for a mere stranger who was a criminal as well? It was too good to be true...

"We need to talk," I said with a frown and left the room. Obediently, he followed me back to the living room and we sat on the dining table, facing each other, the files and papers lying between us.

"What is it?" Yusuke asked as I was just sitting there, scrutinizing him.

"Why are you so nice towards me?" I asked, looking at him intently. The last time I asked him this question, he evaded it, but this time I wouldn't let him escape.

He took a deep breath and pointed at the cupboard. I looked in that direction and saw there were two small white ceramic vase-like boxes on it. "They are..."

"Yes, ashes," Yusuke said with a nod, "the left one is your father's and the right one is my sensei's."

"Your sensei?" I asked curiously, what was the relation?